Mr. Brightside [connor&open]

[Rainbow Dash !!]

-♦-"Maybe I'm not the only one who should feel the need to be alone..."
Connor.-♦-

[/i]

He stared at the two birds fluttering around each other above him. His hands were behind his head. And his ears were concentrated on the beats of their wings. The rise of his chest was slow, he didn't want to startle them with loud breathing. Nature is always at its best when the world wasn't watching. He smiled, the smaller of the two bits has won in their battle. Now, what was it for? His eyes followed the victor, it was a female. Then the male sang a song for her. That was when he took in a deep breath and abruptly let it out. They flew away. 

He turned on his side, the leaves crumbled beneath him. It was a cold night, but he had always come prepared. In this case it was layers and layers of clothing. But it still wasn't good enough for his hands. He thought for a moment, he remembered the packages of hand warmers he threw into his work case. He sat up and looked around him. It was on his other side. He grabbed it and set it on his lap. The chain around his neck held the key for the box. You never know what kind of people will try and steal while out on the field. He unlocked the box and pushed aside some papers and pencils. He found his hand warmers and popped a pack. Warmth returned to his hands. 

He nearly shut the case, then saw a picture underneath the warmers. He picked it up. His face as straight. It was a picture. His mom and dad were standing behind him. They were kissing. And next to him was Nellie. She was smiling at the camera. And him? He was staring at her with that damn goofy smile. Mixed emotions came from this picture. Happiness, anger and depression. He always knew he had it with him. He never went on the field without it. 

His eyes watered, it was all still fresh in his memory. It all happened four years ago. Or it all started four years ago. A few years dripped off his nose. His fist smashed into the ground. He wish he knew the answers but he would never know. It's as if life had its own game. Everyone was a tribute. And all the ones who matter got killed off. He always questioned why they died. But no one would ever answer him. They always started to become sympathetic and coo him. They never tried to answer him. They all still looked at him like the frail thirteen year old who endured the pain. 

He pushed his sleeve last his nose, sometimes he felt like that child. He gently placed it back in the box and locked it back up. Time to rest up. He couldn't afford to loose sleep. He curled back on his side. His hands wrapped around the warmer and his hand closet to his face. 

They ran through the trees and hid bend bushes. "Connor! Connor save me!" her voice echoed. He stood up, his arms in position. One on his bow, and one rested on the wire for his arrow. He snuck around , looking left and right. Ding behind rocks, and dipping between bushes. "Connor! Where are you?" her pretend cries of desperation fueled his urge to win the games. He found her, she was pushed up against a tree. "Connor!" her fingers against the tree let him know which district they were up against, district one. Of course. He stayed behind the bushes, his bow and arrow prepared for attack. He stood up and pulled the wire back. His eye closed and his other focused on the "heart" of his opponent. The feathers tickled his finger tips and they brushed past. The arrow struck through the heart of the first opponent. She smiled as the second turned in surprise. She unsheathed her knife and shoved it through the rib cage of the last opponent. The invisible targets fell on the ground. The victors smiled and ran up to each other to hug in their victory. "Since it seems the last two tributes are in the same district. We have no choice but to make both the victors! District thirteen! You are the winners of the games!" the no existing crowd cheered. The two held their hands in the air. "We did it Connor! We won!" she smiled. He looked at her, "we will always win!" he laughed. He tickled her sides and the two came tumbling to the ground. "Stop it! That tickles!" her giggled filled his ears. He loved that sound. When he stopped the two laid in the grass. "I always win with you by my side..." she smiled at him. Her hair was a mess with crushed up leaves. He smiled back as she rested her head on his chest. He would always win with her in his life. But he never said it.

He tossed onto his side. Is dream has ended, which mean so did his sleep. A light came through his eyelids. It was day light out. He placed his hand over around his shoes. His sunglasses waited for him. He opened them up and out them on his face. His eyes cracked open, "Fucking despise the sunrise..."

[/color] he grumbled. But alas, working outside and staying outside for weeks at a time. You get used to it. He took off layers of his clothing. He left himself with a black long sleeve and blue jeans. The rest of his things; including his bed roll, went into a large duffle bag. "Time to go to work..."[/color]

He found himself examining a pool of water. The grass around it was dead. It was usually a good place to find unusual activity. He pulled a vial out of his side pack and scooped some water inside of it. He looked at the vial. A small organism swam around inside of it. "An extromophile... How odd..."[/color] he pulled out his field journal and write down information. He hoped this discovery would get him some income. He had never found an organism before, maybe it will help with research. He capped the vial and put it in a protective box and back into his side pack.

He looked up for a brief moment. The view from here was beautiful. He threw his bag down from around his shoulder. It always made it continent when he wanted to sit down for a moment, even if he did just wake up. He sat down and pulled out a sketching pencil. He looked up and found his sawing target, a lone eagle. It's cries echoed. A lonely cry, maybe? "You and me both buddy..."[/color] he whispered. His head went back down to the paper with a rough sketch already made out.
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[Allison]

The sunless sky and the crisp morning air sent chills down her spin. The night had been long, restless and full of nightmares filled with graphic, bloody images of a dead women, a smirk that was followed by a quick hand that lead to darkness. Softly, seventeen year old Allison sighed before hoisting herself to her feet. Dry, cracked leaves lined the spot she had been sleeping in and a fair amount even clung to her gray district thirteen uniform, not only that but tangled into her shoulder length brown hair. Carelessly she ran her fingers through her hair just trying to get the majority of the leaves away. Mental note, never sleep on dried leaves, she thought to herself while pulling her sweater off. Roughly she stuffed her gray colored piece of fabric that had kept her warm through the night in her shoulder bag.

Her goal today was to put as much distances between herself and the base of district thirteen. She needed to be alone just so she could think straight or at least without the constant burning of eyes in her back. With an old brush that she had managed to keep from district four, Allison brushed out the knots in her hair, occasionally flinching when she pulled to hard on the stubborn tangles. Sometimes her hair seemed to have a mind of her own. Once done she shoved the brush in her bag and started walking, still miles away from any living creature, let alone human being. Briefly she stopped and reached into her pocket. Good. Her knife was still there and her bow was tied to her shoulder bag with a dozen arrows.

With a soft, rhythmic hum Allison continued her trek through that barren, lifeless lands. Occasionally she would stop to study the tracks. Hunting. Something she learned to do at a young age, although it wasn't the same as what she learned in district four. Back in the place she called home was the way of her life out on the open ocean with her father from time to time, most of the time during the summer when school wasn't to be attended and then during the school year she would spend time with her mother weaving nets or other crucial items for the district of fishing.

With a smooth finger Allison traced over the shell amulet that used to be her mother. Often the death of her deceased mother haunted her dreams. The murders never were found, the peacekeepers hardly looked for clues as to who would kill someone in cold blood. Of course this might mean the Capitol had people hiding among the natives as hired hit man. The thought was scary but not one many people would even think of. To be honest that wouldn't surprise Allison one bit, 'specially considering that the capitol hardly knew the peacekeepers had been nice.

Just one hill away from seeing the water, the open sky and Connor. The cry of a lonely sounding bird filled the air as sun shined down on her path. Slowly Allison looked to the sky with subtle brown eyes in search of where the cries bloomed from. She pulled herself over the hill and let a gentle breeze comb through her hair which now was damp with a light layer of sweat from her long trek. The sight of someone else out in the land was rather shocking and naturally Allison drew her bow from her shoulder bag and notched a bow.

Lightly she placed her feet on the ground and remained to the bushes. Who was out so far away from the safety of district thirteen, if even one of the people she now lived with? Until she found out she would be prepared to let an arrow fly toward any threat. Calvin Kane of district twelve knew rather well how good of a shot she was. A small frown pulled at the corners of her mouth when she thought about the rebellious teen that she informed of the planned rebellion. After awhile of sneaking toward the body of water, Allison ran out of foliage to hide behind. Now was the point she had to either leave her hiding or sit and wait. Today was one of those days she put safety and that obnoxious voice telling her when she had a bad idea away.

With the bow string taught Allison stepped away from the lush bushes that saved her in many circumstances before today. With a deep breath she pulled away from her typical, shy, soft spoken self. "Who are you?"" She called out boldly.

``OOC: Sorry this sucks v.v

[Rainbow Dash !!]

-♦-"It seems like this will be an interesting day in the field"
Connor.-♦-

[/i]

He carefully traced the broken outlines of the majestic bird. He knew he should be taking his bow out to make the bird of prey his own meal. But honestly? Today he wasn't feeling it. He knew he would get some compensation for the sample he had brought in. Bread was always a light and fulfilling; for him anyway, choice of food. Then again he did have to think about it father for food too. His father... He was sick for the moment. There was always a risk of getting sick while mining. He was the only one being in the scarce income for the moment. He knew in the back of his mind that what he was doing was selfish. But he pushed it back even further. Relaxation time was hard for him to find. And when he had it, he took it.

The birds circular diameter had expanded. It was getting closer to him. He could see the faint trace of a eye. It's beak had scratches on it. "Looks like you've been through a lot too..."

[/color] h mumbled when returning back to his paper. It was a noticeable eagle now on the page. All he had to do was add feather design  and shading. He started withy the detailed ridges of the old feathers. But he could never get them just right. He frowned at his poor sketching. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something small and frail daintily fell from the sky. He smiled as he picked it up, "almost like you know, didn't you guy?"[/color] he smiled as he had a more clear way of drawing the feathers now. Simple notions from nature always made his day.

His state of mind returned to the tranquil peace of the out lands. Various different birds sang behind him and the winter wind blew carelessly. The cold air stuck the hairs up on the back of his neck. A light breeze had picked up. He was cold for a brief second. But the outfit the laboratory had given him maintained his body heat. Something the usual and standard outfit of his district couldn't provide. He rubbed his hands together and to create friction and heat and placed them on the back of his neck. The once chilled skin was now protected by minimal body heat. But it would have to do until he was home by a fire. 

He finished warming himself up and returned to his drawing. He knew such peace would be gone after long. Fate never allowed him to enjoy himself. Look at nellie and his mother. They were the best example to his failed attempt at happiness. He had nearly finished. All it needed was the day. He didn't really know anymore, but he always signed it with an odd timeframe, "three days after seventh snowfall". He gazed at his drawing for a few seconds then looked up to thank the eagle. But it was gone now. Such a shame. And then, his moment of broken peace arrived. Perfect timing too. 

"Who are you?"[/color] came from behind him. It was a feminine voice. He had guessed young adult or teenager. He sighed, probably just another soldier who didn't know how to mind their own business. They both were in the same district after all. And the wilderness had no rules like the inner city of the district. He stood up and turned around. Her frame was slim and fit and her hair brown. To top it all off she had an arrow pointed right at him. Ready to pierce his skin if he said the wrong words.

He put his hands in his pockets, no need to surrender. Sometimes his actions get him in trouble more than he likes. Maybe it was just the rush of free will? Or maybe it was a personally revenge for Nellie and his mother. Even if they had never asked. But all he knew is he had this hard shell since they died. Or so his father continuously told him.

He cleared his throat, "is it really necessary to aim at someone in your own district?"[/color] true, his ways of defense were quiet twisted compared to others. But ever since they died, his way of life had been fucked and twisted around several times. Being defensive had gotten him into too many fights. And being the arrogant jerk had gotten him in trouble with the district. He had shed blood before. But it was only because that is what they basically had thought him to do, right? Maybe simmering the situation before it explodes entirely is the way to go.

He rolled his eyes and set his journal in his bag. She obviously took an different approach to introductions. Then he realized she wasn't wearing the same uniform as them. He sighed, "Connor..."[/color] he replied back. She had gotten his name now, but only because the idea of him being outside of uniform could possibly get him in trouble. Or an arrow through his arm. "Now you're turn..."[/color] he hoped since he had mentioned he was already in the district she would be less likely to attack.

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[Allison]

"Is it really necessary to aim at someone in your own district?"

Allison lowered her weapon with a slight frown. So the blue jean wearing stranger in front of her was from district thirteen. Certainly she was trying to get away from the control of the commander just so she could think, running into another controlled person was not on her agenda. With a relaxed arm she slowly loosened the tension put on the taught bow string, then she pulled the arrow away and put it back with the other elven that lay in her bag. "It is when you don't know the people of your own district." She lightly replied a bit embarrassed about this whole turn of events.

"Connor..."

Interesting name, one in which Allison hadn't heard before and now she knew there would be trouble remembering it. Quickly she ran through a list of similar names trying to make some sort of connection so when she ran into this guy again, she wouldn't look stupid for not knowing his name. Her brown eyes scanned over him as she tried to pick out key details to match to the odd name. He was tall with a rather well build, black hair and brown eyes.

"Now you're turn..."

Lazily she walked towards the water and stopped to answer his bossy demeanor that he was showing. "Allison Jasper...Alli for short" She stated both parts of her name unlike his own introduction, her brown eyes stayed focused on the body of water. Fighting off a sigh she crouched at the waters edge and ran her fingers through the dead grass. It was depressing the green blades had died along with many things in this district so long ago. Hopefully everything would start coming back in time because it would be sickening for kids to grow up with little sign of animal life.

Growing up in district four, Allison knew animals, even if they all consisted of sea creatures. She found herself signing at the memories. The small body of water she was by was nothing like the one she learned to swim in. The ocean with its salty liquid, multitude of creatures and a way out from the watchful eyes of peacekeepers, only for a short period of time sadly. Carefully she laid her supplies on the ground tired of having them on her shoulder for such a long period of time. Only if it wasn't so cold out, she'd be walking through it barefoot and her pant legs rolled up. Sadly that was impossible right now without getting sick. So instead she sat down on the ground and crossed her legs, just staring at the water before her. "What are you some sort of scientist?" She asked a bit confused as to why he was so far away from the safe fences of the district.

[Rainbow Dash !!]

-♦-"And on with the Q and A..."
Connor.-♦-

[/i]

He kicked pebbles around as she mentioned not knowing anyone in her own district. That was strange. He figured everyone would know everyone in his district. It was nearly the smallest one and it wasn't as carefree as the others. Well maybe she was too caught up in protecting her own self she didn't take the time to get out and meet others. He didn't mind it, he understood. Then he also realized; again, that he wasn't wearing the standard uniform. He smiled at her, letting her know he didn't really care. Even thought moments before an arrow was ready to meet his skin. 

A chill shot down his spine when she introduced herself. Not for her name, because he had been reminded that he didn't properly introduce himself. How rude. She had offered her full name and he had only given his first name. He rubbed his hand on the back of his neck, "it's nice meeting you..."

[/color] he quietly replied. He looked at her again, Allison. It was a beautiful name. Certainly one he wouldn't need to forget. Believe it or not, he didn't make himself acquainted with many females since Nellie. Actually, it is a reasonable reason why he hadn't. Which is why some people thought he wasn't exactly a full on ladies man. Rather than a mans man. He fumed when he thought about the ridicule he receives on a daily basis while out and about it now.

His palms sweat as she took notice to the grass. He hoped she wouldn't get too close. He didn't even know what kind of reactions were in the water, but if it killed the grass around it then it wasn't good water. He didn't know the chemicals that lived in it. Or what the organisms were like. "Be careful please... I'm not sure what that water containes, I'm not even sure if it's one-hundered percent water..."[/color] he chuckled. It wasn't even a funny joke. It mostly had some weird field scientists humor behind it. Great, this is definatly the way to impress this young woman. He felt his confidence slip from his grasp. Oh well, not like he had intentions. Not like the guys he knew who wanted to lay with anything that gave them the opportunity to. He mentally rolled his eyes. Pigs...

He thought for a moment for her question. "A scientist? Not exactly..."[/color] he placed a finger on his chin and ever so slightly looked up towards the sky. He knew that statement didn't sound right to her. He did just make a personal joke about the water being contaminated. "I don't do the break down of chemicals. I just know basic things... For example, that water isn't safe. It contains harmful chemicals"[/color] he shrugged. He was only hired to go out and collect basic data. The scientists were too busy in their own laboratory to do this field work that takes weeks at a time. 

He took his finger off his lip, "but field research isn't all I do. I mine with my dad."[/color] this was the more basic job for someone of his age. "I started mining at fifteen..."[/color] his voice was low. "But this one pays better..."[/color] he mumbled. His mind played back in the days when him and his father would work to get by. It was a big blow for them when one of them got sick. Their minimum income was cut in half. He had been offered the field research job when he turned sixteen a year later. Things had been a little better for them. More money coming in, more food. Not the best feeding, but still they went every other day with filling their stomachs. 

He finished his older memories and looked back up at her. Her hair maintained traces of crumpled leaves. As if she had been outside for a while. He took note of her skin. That's strange, it wasn't like the usually skin color of the district. Maybe that's why she hadn't known of who he was or anything about him. Could she had not been born here? His gaze became lightly skeptical of her. "So tell me... Allison... Why are you so far from home?"[/color] 

He wondered if she would answer the obvious question, 'why so far from district thirteen safe area'. He didn't expect her to over analyze the question like he did when he looked at her. But if she would only answer that one, he would ask the one he really wanted to know. 'What district are you from in the first place?' but he would never so blatantly ask that up front.
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[Allison]

"It's nice to meet you..."

Allison listened to Connor's quiet reply and how he trailed off at the end of the sentence. He seemed to do that every time he spoke which was different than most people. Was it because he was shy around people? Maybe and that would explain why he was so far away from the districts civilization. Her brown eyes looked up briefly when Connor explained the water could possibly still be harmful despite the fact he wasn't one hundred percent sure of what the liquid consisted off. Sad, she thought while backing away from the substance she loved, or at least the substance it appeared to be.

Uneasily she walked along the water side as the dead grass folded under her boots. How could anyone destroy nature in such a way just to destroy a civilization, one that was to smart to even be destroyed in the first place? After all district thirteen had always secretly been in charge of the biological warfare that the Capitol wanted. She stopped walking and tucked her hands in her pockets with her gaze stuck to the ground. Finally she managed to get her thoughts off Calvin but once again they were now being focused on the Capitol. Lazily she tilted her head to the sky and took in a slow, controlled breath hoping to shake her uneasy feelings away.

"A scientist? Not exactly..."

Well that destroyed one more theory about this mysterious district worker. Allison slowly lowered her head and looked at Connor. Casually she walked away from her steady path of dead grass and hazardous water to sit on a smooth rock that was warming up under the sun. Certainly reptiles at the time would bask in this spot before the nuclear bomb was unleashed on the land. She crossed her legs and set her hands in her lap so she could focus on what her new accomplish was saying.

"I don't do the break down of chemicals. I just know basic things... For example, that water isn't safe. It contains harmful chemicals."

Interesting, he certainly seemed to know what most scientist knew, though then again science classes taught the basics to students so he could be speaking from that. Allison had learned the basic science terms when in district four but science wasn't really her thing so she spent a lot of time on other subjects like art or English because they let her mind flow with creativity instead of rights and wrongs. She wasn't one to follow the books and was always thinking either about events in her life or dreams she wanted to achieve. Then he started to explain about the other job he did, mining with his dad. So did that mean he wasn't from district thirteen originally?

Brown eyes studied over his stature again as she tried to determine the answer to her unspoken question. He didn't look like Calvin or Alice but who knows he might be different. The mining job explained the well build he had going on for him and that was the only thing she could find in Connor that Calvin also possessed. She frowned at the thought of her district twelve accomplish and how she had brought hope into his life by speaking of a rebellion.

"So tell me... Allison... Why are you so far from home?"

Connor's voice brought her from the never ending thought process she had. Home. Which home was he referring to? Slowly she thought about whether or not she wanted to answer by explaining why she was away from district four. Lazily she pulled her hair around the back of her neck onto her left shoulder. "Well I'm just trying to get away from the judging eyes of District 13 because I don't like to be judged for being new." She stated flatly, surly he all ready knew that though. "I guess I shouldn't even call this district home because there is only one person who treats me like I've been here forever but I think she knows what I'm going through. You might know her actually. Her names Alice Smith, I believe that is her last name."

It was funny that she actually made a friend in this district since she's only been here for a few months. Now her best friend also was her room mate and they seemed to get along rather well despite how Alice stays up for hours studying. She pulled the only item she still owned from district four from out under her uniform, her mothers shell amulet. "I traveled from District 4 with my dad a few months ago to get away from the trouble that had stirred when I was seven and I don't know how my dad knew this place was still going strong but he did. Sadly my dad didn't live much longer after our arrival and the doctors aren't sure what happened." She admitted rather bashfully about her whole ordeal but she made sure to leave out the key points as to why she had left.